Viewpoints
The Newsletter of the Licensing Executives Society (U.S.A. and Canada), Inc.
Vol. XXIV No. 4
December 2016
Sowing The Seeds For Inspiration and Creativity Brian P. O’Shaughnessy Chairman of the Board & President, LES (USA & Canada)
Dear Friends and Colleagues: As members and supporters of LES, you are at the forefront of innovation, commercialization, and business development. Without you, the Innovation Economy would not be the robust economic engine that it is today. You create opportunity for inventors, new products to improve lives, and markets that fuel economies. Were it not for the licensing community, intellectual property as an asset would be a dry and sterile commodity rather than the seed of inspiration and industry that it is today. Here is where innovation meets application, and creativity takes flight. It is a great honor to serve LES as its President, and I look forward to working with you in furthering its mission. From its founding, the LES mission has been a noble one, focused on community, collegiality, and cooperation, not merely for personal enrichment, but for the betterment of the profession, and the improvement of the human condition.
next generation. Frank Barnes Mentors give selflessly to their colleagues and to their profession, not merely to ensure that the next generation has the necessary tactical skills, but that they hold fast to the finer traditions and high moral standards that are the hallmarks of excellence and achievement in our profession. Likewise, the Society annually acknowledges its Deals of Distinction awardees. These are individuals, chosen by their peers, for having crafted creative, durable, and worthy deals. It is especially notable that these awards always go to all parties in the transaction, acknowledging that the greatest deals require give and take, and often great patience, but ultimately all for the greater good—bringing new and innovative products and services to the public, creating new businesses and markets, and thereby fueling a virtuous cycle of ongoing innovation. You are all to be commended for your contributions to the profession and to the
Society. Your generosity in devoting your own time and talent to the good works of this Society is what has made LES the leading licensing organization in the world. This is your Society, and its success is a testament to your continued involvement, engagement, and support. Those of us who attend LES meetings know that every meeting is much more than what we hear from those at the lectern. It is the chance encounter, the random introduction, and the collective pursuit of common goals that create and sustain this community, and enhance our own professional network. For all its bells and whistles, the so-called “online community” is no match for what you can achieve, and the relationships you can form, at an LES meeting. The importance and relevance of LES continues to grow. The innovation economy, and the very concept of intellectual property, is under attack. There are those who urge that intellectual property is a mere abstraction, something governments can dispense or withhold at will. We know that, in order to thrive, the innovation economy demands much more. As a Society, we will continue educating legislators, judges, and the executive branch, both in the U.S. and Canada, as to the workings of the innovation economy, and how best to support it for the public good. Our efforts include white Continued on Page 2
This is reflected in the honors the Society bestows on its most distinguished members. Among the Society’s highest honors is the Frank Barnes Mentor Award—given to an LES Member who has shown outstanding dedication to the licensing profession by devoting time and talent to mentoring the
LES VIEWPOINTS HIGHLIGHTS Robin Farmanfarmaian— Embrace Disruption, Digitization Page 4
2016 LES Annual Meeting What did you miss? Pages 6-7
Deals Of Distinction Powerhouse deals & genome editing Page 10
LES Standards: Protecting IP In The Global Supply Chain Page 12